Draft attachment for wheeled implements

Abstract

A draft attachment for wheeled implements. The attachment is characterized by an elongated frame member having a coupling located at one end thereof adapted to connect the frame member with a wheel-supported implement, a singular ground wheel disposed substantially beneath the opposite end of the frame member and pivotally connected thereto in supporting relation therewith, a power train connected to the wheel for selectively driving the ground wheel about its axis of rotation and an operator's platform mounted on the frame member in fixed relation therewith.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. An improved draft attachment for a wheeled implement comprising: A. an elongated vehicle frame of a rigid, segmented configuration characterized by a forwardly extended, horizontally oriented leading segment and a rearwardly extended, downwardly inclined trailing segment;   B. means for imparting vertical and lateral stability to the vehicle frame including an implement coupling mounted on the trailing segment adapted to rigidly connect the vehicle frame to a wheel-stabilized implement;   C. an operator's platform mounted above the longitudinal axis of the leading segment of the vehicle frame in fixed relation therewith; and   D. hydraulic drive means for propelling said attachment including an angularly displaceable, hydraulically driven steering assembly coupled to the leading segment of the vehicle frame in a supporting relationship therewith and adapted to oscillate about a turning axis disposed in a vertically oriented plane transversely related to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame, including a wheel frame pivotally connected to the leading segment of the vehicle frame, a ground wheel having an axis of rotation disposed in trailing relation with said turning axis, a gear reduction unit mounted on the wheel frame having a rotary output coupling including a wheel mounting ring concentrically related to the ground wheel and connected thereto in a driving relationship therewith, and a hydraulic motor mounted on the wheel frame having a rotary output shaft disposed in juxtaposition with the ground wheel and connected to said gear reduction unit.   
     
     
       2. The attachment of claim 1 wherein the wheel frame is of a segmented, caster-like configuration and includes a motor mount for supporting said hydraulic motor in coaxial alignment with the ground wheel, an inclined segment having one end affixed to said motor mount and extended through said vertically oriented plane, a vertically oriented crown segment rigidly connected to said inclined segment at the uppermost end thereof, and coupling means for pivotally connecting the crown segment of said wheel frame to the vehicle frame including at least one horizontally oriented plate rigidly affixed to said crown segment and at least one journal pin affixed to the leading segment of the vehicle frame and extended vertically through the plate. 
     
     
       3. The attachment of claim 2 further comprising steering means for imparting angular displacement to the wheel frame including a pair of double-acting slave cylinders having output shafts arranged in substantial parallelism at opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of said vehicle frame and extended through said vertical plane, means for coupling the base ends of the slave cylinders to the vehicle frame, means for pivotally connecting the extended ends of the output shafts with said plate, and means for simultaneously imparting linear motion in opposite directions to said shafts, whereby the wheel frame is caused to advance about said turning axis. 
     
     
       4. The attachment of claim 1 wherein said implement coupling includes a female socket having at least one internal face of a planar configuration and a male protuberance configured to be received in an interlocking mated relationship within said female socket and adapted to be rigidly affixed to the wheel-stabilized implement. 
     
     
       5. The attachment of claim 1 further comprising an hydraulic circuit connected with said hydraulic motor including a pump adapted to be connected in a driven relationship with a power plant mounted on said implement.